Improvement-in processes and apparatus for manufacturing hydrogen gas



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

V i. M. HIRsH. PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING HYDROGEN GAS. P

Patented :une 20,1876.l

e-Zlesl? N PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON, D C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2*.

J. M. HIRsH. l PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING HYDRO'GEN GAS.

Patented J'une 20, 1876,

Fig.4

In Venor difesi N.FETERS, PHOTO-LIYNOGRAEHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Josera M. HinsH, or CHICAGO, ILmNoIs.

IMPROVEMENT lN PROCESSES AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING HYDROGEN GAS.:

Specitication forming part of Letters Patent No. '179,01 S, dated June 2O, i876; application tiled vApril 12, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Figure l represents an elevation of an apparatus used by me Fig. 2, a sectional view ot' the same, taken onthe line a' w, Fig. l;

Fig. 3, across-section of the same, taken on the line x x', Fig. 2; Figs. 4 and 5, detailed views ot'k the interior ot' the apparatus; Fig. 6, a plan view ot' one ot' the batteries,andFig. 7 a section ot' the same, taken on the line y y, Fie-.6.

My invention consists, first, in the manufacture ot' hydrogen gas in the manner and under conditions hereafter described and claimed; secondly, in the method of accelerating and enhancing the action of the battery; thirdly, in the process of regenerating the battery used for electrolyzin g water, and utilizing the residual hydrocarbon; fourthly, in certain apparatus t'or carrying out my process.

In the drawings, A represents an outer vessel or casing, closed except at the top. Within the vessel A is placed a second vessel, B,whi ch is a little smaller than the rs't, and is supported .within the latter, s o that there will be an annular space between the sides and bottoms of the two. The bottom space is lled with water, and between the sides otl the two vessels is placed a gasometcr,`C, ot' the usual con struction. Within the vessel B, near the bottom, is placed a false bottom, b, of perforated meta-l, upon which I buildup my battery, as

'follow's: A layer of charcoal, C, is tirst placed upon the false bottom, and upon the charcoal are placed a large number ot scraps of metal, to constitute the electro-positive elements of the battery. This metal may be either iron or zinc, or, preferably, tin scrap, coiled up, as shown in Fig. 6 of drawings, curledbeech shavings being interposed to prevent contact of the coils. The interstices between the batteries are lled u pwith coarsely-ground charcoal, which serves as the negative element, and so on, until the batter is completed, the layers of charcoal and batteries alternating,

i as shown in Fig.`2. pipe, E, enters the ves-l ine, when used for the production of gas on a small scale.

The batteries being lbuilt up, as above described, the exciting-solution is added. 'll-he lamount and composition of the saine ca-nybe varied, but I have found, in practice, that the best results flow from the use ot' a solution of' a salt ot' the electro-positive element. When thiselement is iron I use any salt ot' iron, such as sulphate; .when zinc, the chloride orv sul-4 plate; when tin,the chloride; these solutions being ota degree-of concentration approximating from 1.2 to 1.6 specific gravity.- An excess ot' acid may beadded, especially when thesalt in solution-such as coppe'ras-is likely to deposit some'of its metal-vas oxide. To these solutions may also be added an equal bulk ot' a dilute solution of glycerine and chloride of calcium. Neither need be pure, as they areonly employed on account of their hydroscopic properties, and to prevent freezing in cold weather. These solutions are added in amounts necessary to thoroughly saturate the battery or cells. Just above ythe charge of batteries is placed a diaphragm of perforated metal, F, upon which may be placed a quantity ot quicklime, for the absorption ot' any carbonio acid which may be present as in so lnton in water.

The operation of my device is `as follows:

Steam is introduced through the pipe E,Which condenses in the batteries, and the so-formed water is electrolyzed by the vast number of local currents ot' electricity which are set up, the hydrogen being liberated, and oxygen combining with the electro-positive metal, Whether A zinc,vtin-scrap, or iron. It' the nascent hydrogen combines, in small part, with the carbon present, and small quantities ot hydrocarbons are formed, they pass off with the 'hydrogen through the pi peG to a carbureter, where they are carbureted. From the carbureter the gas'.

is supplied to the burners.

When the gas is to be made on a large scalo ordinary gas-retorts` are charged with a series of batteries in `the manner above described, and the process is condctedin the saine way. In this case the retorts` may be heated, and the resulting thermo-electric currents will supplement theordinary electric currents, and enhance the production of' gas. The internal temperature should not be ashigh as the fusing- `point of the most fusiblemetal present-ami` when the battcryease is heated vno glycerine is` used` in the exciting-liquid. y -Should the beech shavings become charred during a cesV sation of the steamlcurrent they still serve-to keep the coils of scrap-tin from coming in contact, and act as absorbents.` Such a temperature as would char the shavingswould also evaporate to drynessthermetallic salts; but

-the free supply of incoming steam will suflciently moisten thesalts to render them active.

"lhehydrogen gas produced maybe carbnreted in a carbureter of ordinary construction, external to the battery-case; `or oil vapor may be introducediutothe case itself'. y

When using gasretortsas 'the battery-case oil vapors may be introduced intothe case itself. `When using gas-retortsas the battery-` case under the inuenee -ot `heat another and desirable result is attained: The oxidized posi tive metal is reduced, by the hydrogen ot' the introduced hydrocarbon, tothe metallic state, and the-battery is vthus revivied, the light "hydrocarbon introduced being at thersame `time converted into a heavier by the abstraction of a part of its hydrogen. Theintroduction of the steam directly into the batteries, whether they are hot or cold, subserves, also another desirable end, besides furnishing the water for electrolysis: The mechanicalaction of the steam serves to free, by attrition, the

' current ot' hydrocarbon `deposit upon the positiveeleinents, uandilmeps them bright and ready to be acted upon "and it also servesV to carry away the liberated hydrogen from the `negative or -carbon poles, t

The saine effect maybe produced byaqueous vapor, conveyed by any `\-ehicle, such as'air; l u or it maybe produced by the mechanical acl y tion ot' air alone, it' there` be4 suiiicientwater in theapparatus. y y l t, Having thus described inyfinvention, `whatl f jl. In producing hydrogen gasyby electrcly-l` A `sis of Water by a largefnumber of minute galy a vanic cells, the process ofaccelerating and en"- l. l hancing the actiouot' the battery andthe ey'oew lution ot' gas, the saniefconsisting in forcing y through" the battery a currentlof steam, or 1 aqueous vapor, or air, `substantially as de-l` scribed.

2. The process of regenerating the battery by reducing the decomposed metal to the nie-` tallic state, `the same consisting `in passing through or over its particles, while heated, a

as described. t u y l t 3. lylie process of utilizing the heavy hydrocarbon left after regenerating the battery, as

described, which consistsfin passinghydrol gen through the battery while the same isstill heated, whereby the hydrogen will be carbul reted, substantially `as set forth. y

et. "lli'e colnbinatioxrot' the tank d3, steanl-` pipe E, .and battery of contiguous elements, substantially as described. I` f y JOSEPH MQHIRSH. Witnesses:

W; R. Museu, ALBERT HEYMAN.

vapor, `substantially I 

